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Young Thug RICO trial paused for judge removal motion review

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Updated  July 1, 2024 1:35pm EDT
YSL Trial
FOX 5 Atlanta

YSL Young Thug trial paused

The Young Thug trial is on hold until next week. Presiding Judge Ural Glanville was supposed to hold private review of the controversial June 10 meeting between him, prosecution witness Kenneth Copeland and his lawyer without the defense being present.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - On the hundredth day of the Young Thug/YSL trial in Fulton County, court was halted indefinitely.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville made the announcement on Monday after he was scheduled to hold an in camera (private) review of an ex parte meeting that has been a point of debate for the last few sessions.

The trial for Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and several of his associates began on Nov. 27, 2023. For months, the trial has dragged on with witness testimony and bickering among the attorneys.

RAW: Judge Glanville announces trial on pause

Judge Ural Glanville announces Young Thug/YSL trial on pause until a motion related to his removal can be removed by another judge.

The ex parte meeting took place between witness Kenneth Copeland, his lawyer, the prosecution, and Judge Glanville after Copeland initially refused to testify for the prosecution. Judge Glanville held him in contempt on June 7, and he spent the weekend in jail.

On June 10, the ex parte meeting was held in the judge's chambers, and then Copeland took the stand.

Young Thug's primary attorney, Brian Steel, learned of the ex parte meeting and confronted the judge later that day. When Steel refused Judge Glanville's orders to reveal who told him about the meeting, Steel was held in contempt.

Young Thug's defense lawyer placed in custody

The incident unfolded after Steel, who is one of the attorneys for Jeffery Williams (Young Thug), approached the bench following the lunch recess, revealing his knowledge of an ex parte conversation that took place before court on Monday morning.

Initially, Judge Glanville planned to make him spend 10 weekends in jail. However, the Georgia Supreme Court stepped in and put a stay on the order.

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After knowledge of the ex parte meeting became public, Steel and a couple of the other defense attorneys filed motions to have Judge Glanville disqualified or recused from the case. However, Judge Glanville ruled against the motions and the requests for review.

RELATED: Young Thug trial: Judge Glanville denies motion made by Brian Steel to disqualify him

Why is Young Thug's trial delayed again?

The trial of Young Thug and others in the YSL RICO case has paused yet again. This time, it comes so a review can be made of a motion to remove the judge.

Additionally, Young Thug co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick filed an emergency motion with the Georgia Supreme Court, also requesting Judge Glanville to be removed. However, the appellate court kicked it back down to the state court, basically saying that Kendrick had to follow proper procedures.

On Friday, Judge Glanville told the prosecution and defense they would meet on Monday to go over the transcripts from the ex parte meeting. It was supposed to be a private meeting, not even one that the defendants could attend. The results of the private meeting would then be discussed in open court on July 3.

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However, during Monday's court proceeding, Judge Glanville used case law to defend his actions and the ex parte meeting and described it as "proper." He informed prosecutors and defense lawyers that he would be releasing the complete transcript from the meeting for them to use as they see fit and before any further examination of witness Copeland. He also said that he was canceling the July 3 show cause hearing during which he intended to find out who told Steel about the ex parte meeting.

Steel then revealed that another judge would be assigned to review a motion filed on Friday by Deamonte Kendrick's lawyer to have him removed from the case. 

Judge Glanville has previously denied three motions for his recusal or disqualification from the case. 

Kendrick initially filed a motion with the Georgia Supreme Court, but the court returned it, basically saying that Kendrick did not follow the standard legal procedures. An emergency motion for Writ of Mandamus was then filed with the Fulton County Superior Court. 

The judge will also review the previous motions that were filed by Steel and other defense lawyers. 

Until a decision has been made on the case, court will be in recess. 

At this time, it is not known when that hearing will take place. However, witness testimony was not scheduled to resume until after the holiday on July 8.

RELATED: Brian Steel argues about phone call; Young Thug posts on X

In other news, several additional YSL defendants appeared in a separate courtroom in front of Fulton County Superior Court Judge Alford Dempsey on Friday. Five of those defendants rejected plea deals offered by the state and requested trial dates. Three defendants are still waiting for a chance to review the deals offered to them.

Additionally, over the weekend, rumors began circulating online about the possible death of Kenneth "Lil Woody" Copeland. However, they were incorrect. It appears that a man who was killed in his apartment on Peyton Place SW on June 29 may be an associate or friend of Copeland. FOX 5 Atlanta has been unable to obtain the man's name from the Fulton County Medical Examiner at this time.